10 Years!?

This past Sunday was my 30th birthday. 30! 30? I just can't wrap my brain around that number. I certainly don't feel like the college girl I am going to tell you about in this post, but I also certainly don't feel a day over 25. Matt tried so hard to make my birthday special. He knew I would not want a big hullaballoo, lots of people, or lots of attention. He also knew I wanted/needed sleep. He took the boys to get me breakfast, a latte, a card, and balloons. I didn't wake up until 9:00! Margot did her part just by sleeping. We then all got ready and actually made it to church (on time!) On the way, Matt said "I want to do something special for your birthday." My response was "Oh, don't worry about it, it doesn't even feel like my birthday!" I meant it to sound reassuring, like "I don't need anything else, I'm not sad about the way the day is going." He took it as though he wasn't doing enough to make the day special. I immediately pointed out all the nice things he had done the whole week. We went on two dates, ate great food, had the boys spend the night with my in-laws, and loved and stared at our new baby (talk about a great birthday present). Most of all, he had been there to hug me when I felt like I wasn't going to make it, to step in and be super dad when I needed a bath, to come home on any break he had to give me a moments relief so that I could make it through the rest of the day. My husband is my hero! The most special thing about my birthday this year was remembering that it was our 10 year anniversary of our first date. I want to jot down some of the memories I have of the time-I know it will be something fun to show the kids one day.

I met Matt during the second quarter of our freshman year at Auburn. We ran into each other some at his fraternity house, we shared a chemistry class, and I had somehow come to find out that he was a "presbyterian!" I remember inviting him to freshman bible study with RUF (we would later lead that study together) and being so surprised/happy when he showed up and sat in my group. We learned a lot about each other just sitting in those small groups and listening to what the other had to say. We knew we shared common beliefs, and I knew that I had a BIG CRUSH! We ran into each other off and on the rest of the year and once over the summer. Matt somehow found out that I was in a music appreciation class on Tuesday nights that first semester of sophomore year, and he enrolled. I thought he just wanted to be in a class with a nice over-achiever so that he wouldn't have to do much work; he claims he enrolled because he had a bit of a crush too. We met at the library and listened to countless music recordings (way more than we needed to, but hey-we both got A's). He playfully put me down about my lack of knowledge of the instrument,; I loved that he knew something about music. My 20th birthday was quickly approaching, and it happened to be on a Tuesday night that year. I made sure Matt knew that it was my birthday (though I'm not sure how), and he suggested we ditch class during the break and get some dinner (a big deal for this rule keeper). He made it seem like he was just being nice and didn't want me sitting in class on my birthday. I didn't want to get my hopes up that it was a date. I tried to guard my heart from all the thoughts that young girls have when they have a crush on a new guy. I am pretty sure I had already pictured myself standing beside him in white, and having many of his babies! At 8:00 we left class, and I tried to keep my wits about me (and not say anything stupid) as he drove me to Noodles. We sat outside on the second floor over-looking college street by ourselves, the waitress forgot about us but we didn't care, we talked for a long time, enjoyed a dessert, and he gave me a card. The card (I have it somewhere) said something about how he was happy about our relationship. I remember thinking "what? relationship? like our friend relationship, or some other sort of relationship?" Matt would go on to confuse me for a couple of weeks before he told me how he felt. I remember feeling on top of the world the night he told me he wanted to date me. I also remember feeling like I would marry this man some day. The Lord blessed us with two great years of dating before we married in December 2002. They were no doubt some of the best times in our lives. 10 years later: I am still, truly so deeply in love. That part has not changed. Matt, you are my birthday gift from 10 years ago that keeps giving. Thank you for loving me, for all that you do for us, and for 10 years of great birthdays!